Saving Money

With the unlucky loonie continuing to drop, Canadians are pinching their pennies and watching their savings. According to a recent survey from digital offers site RetailMeNot.ca, 73 per cent of Canadians are worried about the nation's economy. However, a little savvy spending will help to satisfy needs and wants.

These five lessons made me a personal finance expert and provided the foundation for an awesome life. Money is a fuel for all the things that you want to be do in life and being smart with it makes things easier. Get your kids to understand and love money as soon as you can. Hard work and mastering money will take them the distance.

Happy halfway through the year! How has your year been going financially? Did you get the promotion you were hoping for? Have you been paying down your debt and getting on top of your money? If the answer is no, that's OK, because we still have six more months to go until next year!

According to a recent survey by coupon site RetailMeNot.ca revealed Canadians spend an average total of $776 on gifts for wedding related events such as showers, engagement parties and the actual ceremony. And that's just one wedding! To keep your wedding budget in check, I've pulled together my top ten savvy spending tips.

I love my smartphone! I go to bed after scrolling through Facebook and LinkedIn posts. It tells me how many calories I've consumed and calculates how many calories I've burned based on how much I've walked. But most importantly it helps me save and make money!

It comes as no surprise that Canadians like their local breweries and prefer Canadian beer -- plenty of which will be enjoyed this coming Canada Day. Beer, second to local food, tops the list as the product most Canadians prefer to buy Canadian, according to a new study by Ebates.ca. The decision to purchase Canadian products extends beyond economic benefits. Successful businesses can also give back to the community through sponsorship, charity and contributions to the arts, culture and sports, and locally sourced products means a reduced carbon footprint.

Canadians have many reasons to celebrate as their nation turns 148 years old tomorrow. They can even feel a bit of pride in an area that normally provides a healthy dose of shame in the headlines: personal finance. Let's take a look at a list of Canadian financial accomplishments along with lessons we can use to help us become the True North, Strong and Debt-Free.

The start of summer is the last time that students want to think about university and their future, but the time is right to start building a plan. With school getting more expensive and good jobs hard to get when you graduate it's crucial to put some strategies in place.

Let's face it -- as a nation, our collective summer starvation turns us into ravenous sun-worshippers, giddy and eager to soak up every moment. And for many of us, money proves no obstacle, even if it means going into debt.

It's the good "Big Rocks" that can actually make you wealthy (or poor) so let's concentrate on the big rocks! Large items that can make you poor are things like expensive dinners, cars, boats and big ticket clothing. And then things like business equity, investments, and property are the big items that make you rich.

It's almost summer and the time when most people spend a fortune. It's so easy for us to spend out of control trying to make up for the crappy winter. But as your spending starts to heat up why not put a freeze on it by getting rid of your cards? You and your money will be nice and cool before winter comes.

When creating a budget for your bucket list you have to keep in mind a bunch of things. The first thing is that there will always be more items to spend on vs. how much you bring in. We have one kick at "the bucket" so let's all make sure that we use our money as a fuel to get everything we want in life. This is how you do it.

I want every millennial to grow up to be a millionaire! The scary thing is that a million dollars won't be that much money in 40 years. The idea of a millionaire, sitting in his wood paneled living room and smoking on his pipe with hounds at his feet is long over. Millionaires will be "thousandaires" by today's standards as everything gets more and more expensive.

By doubling the maximum contribution for a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), which would therefore jump to $11,000 a year according to rumours surrounding next Tuesday's budget, the federal government is doing more than just encourage saving; it's taking a step toward the de facto elimination of the capital gains tax on financial investments for the great majority of Canadians.

Spring is a time for renewal and for making a fresh start. It's also time to spring ahead with some new, healthy and wonderful habits to kick start our personal finances to get them moving in the right direction. Here are five easy ways to embrace frugality in your everyday routine and habits.

Are you an investor? Although this might seem like a simple question, the answer isn't so straightforward. One way is to ask some fundamental questions about your financial decisions, what's informing your strategy and how you're putting a plan into place. In other words, think about attitude, aptitude and action.

For many students, simply landing a job with a decent income is the main priority. There are usually tangible learning opportunities and skills to develop in any job or role you take on, whether or not it is directly related to your field of study. For example, if you're heading a landscaping crew, hone your organizational and leadership skills.

With talk about interest rates lowering even further after the Bank of Canada's surprise announcement several weeks ago, many homeowners across B.C. are likely wondering if it's time to refinance their mortgage and take advantage of lower rates.

A plan with unlimited calls, unlimited texting and a small amount of data from major providers like Bell, Rogers and Telus can cost up to $80 per month, and that doesn't even cover roaming fees or long-distance calls. To save money, you may want to look into some of the cheaper brands like the Telus-owned Koodo or Wind, and avoid the "Big Three."

The reality is most of us have no idea where our money goes, and because of this it feels like there is never enough. But the irony is taking control of our personal finances and allocating only one hour a week to it, has the power to make us feel more in control and confident about our personal financial situation and future.

Did you know this Saturday, January 17 is officially "Ditch Your New Year's Resolutions Day"? Most people start the New Year with the best of intentions, but after returning from holidays and getting back into the busyness of life, resolutions have a tendency to be dropped.

When I read my daughter's article about her "Cheap Week" it warmed my heart that she is as cheap as I was. It brought back memories of my own youthful financial desperation. It's good to know that she's inherited the family cheap streak. I, too, had to be cheap, so why did I get concerned when I realized my daughter was tippy toeing around the poverty line?

A new year brings excitement and anticipation of what's to come. It gives us the permission to make changes in our lives or not. With a little orchestration, we can map out 2015, set goals and accomplish more. This might be the best gift you could give yourself. Let me show you how.